2027: Opposition parties are just participants, APC will win — Yilwatda

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the ruling party is prepared to win the 2027 general elections, describing opposition parties contesting the polls as “just participants.”

Yilwatda made the statement on Saturday while briefing journalists at the end of a three-day retreat organised for members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The APC chairman said the party had completed key preparations for the 2027 elections, including the inauguration of campaign councils and reconciliation committees.

He expressed confidence in candidates produced through the party’s primary elections, saying the NWC had resolved to intensify its campaign ahead of the polls.

“The party is healthy, and we are confident we have produced the most credible and acceptable candidates to be elected,” Yilwatda said.

He said the party would drive its campaign by highlighting what it described as the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to voters.

The retreat also ended with the APC passing a vote of confidence in Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates ahead of the elections.

Addressing concerns over internal disputes arising from the party’s primary elections, Yilwatda said between 6,000 and 7,000 members participated in the exercises across the country, while about 100 cases had been taken to court.

“With 6,000 to 7,000 members who participated in the primary elections, we have about 100 cases in court; that means an average of less than 3 cases per state.

“It means just 1 per cent of the people that participated in the election went to court; do you think my party is in bad shape? Only 1 per cent went to court,” he said.

Yilwatda said the figures demonstrated the APC’s confidence in the outcome of its primaries, adding that the party remained focused on the 2027 elections.

“We are very confident our party would win the elections,” he added.

The APC chairman also highlighted the party’s early preparations, saying the ruling party had already constituted its campaign council.

“APC is the first to constitute a campaign council; I don’t think any other party has done that,” Yilwatda said.

He compared the APC’s preparations with those of other political parties, mentioning the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).

According to him, the NDC had constituted a body which it later described as a support group, while the ADC had only announced its campaign leaders and was yet to constitute its campaign council.

Yilwatda further pointed to the APC’s electoral record as he sought to underline the party’s readiness for the 2027 contest.

“We are the most prepared; we contested in many elections and won. The major opposition parties you are talking about, none of them has ever won a councilorship; as far as I am concerned, they are just participants in this election,” he said.

The APC chairman said the party would continue its campaign and reconciliation efforts as it works towards the 2027 general elections.

The retreat also featured a condolence message to the government and people of Niger State over the deaths of 37 individuals who died in custody.